Signal device for railroad-crossings



L. P. V. WILLIAMS.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1921.

1,394,385. Patented 00'.. 18, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. P. V.. WILLIAMS.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR RAILROAD CROSSINGS. APPLICATloN FILED MAI/23,1921.

1,394,385. Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

N O @l L QXNX; N x I I @if s. I

/ u I f2 UNITED STATES PATENT oI-FIc-r..

LUKE I. V. WILLIAMS, OF WHITELAND, INDIANA.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR RAILROAD-CROSSIN GS.

Application led May 23,

To all whom t may conce/m:

Be it known that I, LUKE P. V. `WILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVhiteland, in the county of Johnson and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices ior Railroad-Crossings; and I do hereby decla-re the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to signal mechanisms for use at grade crossings or other dangerous point-s of railroad tracks, and aims to provide a novel and improved apparatus for giving signals or indications at the crossing or other point of a track when a train or car approaches the crossing or point, in order to warn persons about to cross the track. i

A further object is the provision of such an apparatus which will give a signal or indication to the eii'ect that a train or car is approaching, and which will give another signal or indication to the effect that the train or car is leaving, when the train or car approaches and leaves the crossing or protected point, respectively, in order that the signal device will indicate whether the train or car is coming or going.

Another object is the provision of a signal mechanism having means whereby the approach of a train or car will set a correspending signal member to indicate such condition, means whereby said signal member is restored to normal when the train or car has reached the crossing or protected point and another signal member operated to indicate that the train or car is leaving` and means operable for the restoration of the second named signal member when the train or car has gone a predetermined distance beyond the crossing or protected point.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such aV mechanism which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in the constructionand installation, and which will operate in a practical and eiiicient manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be understood as the de- .scription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described. and claimed, it being understood that chan es can be made 'z-Yfthn the scope ,of .what ,is claimed, with,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

1921. serial No. 471,841.

out departing from the spirit of the invention. y

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the signal devices, showing one signal arm or member raised and the other down in normal position.

Fig. 3 is a view of such signal device showing one arm raised and in section, and illustrating the electrical circuits in diagram. Y

As shown in Fig. 1 the signal apparatus is duplicated at the opposite sides of the track, with the two mechanisms in reversed positions, for two-way traiiic', in both directions, but such duplication is unnecessary with one-way tratlic, or the two mechanisms can be used on double tracks as will be obvious to those versed in the art.

Each apparatus includes a signal device including a post 7 at one side of the track at Vthe crossing or protected point, and a pair of signal arms or members 8 and 9 pivoted, as at 10, on the post 7 to swing upwardly and downwardly to and from signaling position. As shown, said signal members are located at opposite sides of the post 7, and contain suitable legends, such as Train coming7 and Grone or the like, for giving signals or indications to the effect that a train or car is approaching or is leaving, respectively, according to which signal member is raised.

In order to move `said signal members to and from signaling position, they have the armsll projecting from the pivot 10 and connected by links 12 with cores or plungers V13 working in the respective solenoids 14 -and lcarried by the post 7. The cores 13 tion `when released. In this manner, separate and distinct signals or indications are given when a train approaches and leaves the crossing, to give the desired warnings to those approaching' the crossing.

When the train or car approaches the crossing from the opposite direction, or in the direction of' the arrow 26 in Fig. l, the member 59 will be at the opposite side of the track, to operate the switches 27, l0 and of the other apparatus, which may also be taken to represent an apparatus of another track, when double tracks are used.

The operation is precisely the same as above described.

The apparatus is entirely automatic, to eliminate the necessity for a watchman at the crossing, and to give appropriate signals whereby accidents are avoided.

Whenever one ot the signal members is raised or swung' to signaling position, the circuits of the corresponding lamp 16 and the bell 2l are closed, and a common bat tery and bell can be used for all of the circuits ot the signal members as will be obvious to those versed in the art.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is l. A, signal mechanism including a signal device having means for signaling the approach oit a train and means for signaling the fact that the train is leaving, and means operated by the train when approaching from a distance to bring the Vtirst named means to signaling position, and operable when near said device for changing said device to bring the second named means to .signaling position, and operable when the train has moved a distance from said device for restoring said device.

Q. A signal mechanism including a signal device having two signal members, one to indicate the approach of a train and the other to indicate that the train is leaving, means controlling the first named signal member and operable by a train approaching said device from a distance for moving said first named signal member to signalingv iosition, means controlling both signal members and operable when the train is near said device so that the first named signal member is restored and the second named signal member moved to signaling position, and means controlling the second named signal member and operable by the train when it has moved a distance beyond said device for restoring` the second named member.

A signal mechanism including a signal device having means for indicating the appreach of a train and means for indicating that the train is leaving, and electrical ap paratus controlling said device and including a member to be operated by a train appreaching from a distance for controlling said device to bring the iirst named means into signaling position, a member operable by the train when it is near said device for restoring the irst named means and bringing the second named means to signaling position, and a member operable by the train at a distance when leaving said device 'for restoring the second named means.

A signal mechanism comprising a signal device having two signal members, one to indicate the approach of a train and the other to indicate that the train is leaving, an electrical means for each of said members to move same to signaling position, and electrical circuits and controlling means for said electrical means for control by a train approaching from a distance to control one of said electrical means for moving the irst named signal member to signaling position, and controlled when the train is near said device for controlling both et said electrical means to restore the first named signal member and move the second named signal member to signaling position, and controlled by the train when leaving the signal device for restoring the second named signal member.

5. A signal mechanism comprising a signal device having two signal members one to indicate the approach of a train and the other to indicate that the train is leaving, electrical means for each of said members tor moving same to signaling position, means operable when a train approaches from a distance for energizing one of said electrical means to move the first named member to signaling position, means operable when the train is near said device for opening the circuit of said electrical means to restore the first named signal member and to simultaneously operate to energize the other electrical means for moving the second named signal member to signaling position, and means operable when the train is leaving for opening the circuit of the second named electrical means to restore the second named signal member.

6. A signal mechanism including a signal device having means for indicating the approach of a train and means to indicate when the train is leaving, and devices controlling said signal device by the approach, passing and leaving of a train to set said signal device accordingly, to indicate when the trainV is approaching and leaving.

In. testimony whereof I have signed. my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUKE P. V. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

C. N. DURHAM, HUBER C. Moons. 

